Match-box



M. HOLM.

MATCH BOX.

{No Model.)

Patented Feb. 5,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT MARTIN HOLM, OF HILLSBOROUGH, TEXAS.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,647, dated February5, 1895 Application filed March 21, 1894. Serial No. 504,537. (Nomodel!) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN HoLM, a citizen of the United States.residing at Hillsborough, in the county of Hill and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in match safes, or boxes, theobject being to so construct a box for this purpose as to prevent thewholesale removal therefrom of large numbers of matches by users andborrowers and their consequent wasteful expenditure, which, when thishappens, as it commonly does in hotels and stores, makes the cost ofmatches an item of considerable expense to the proprietor.

The invention therefore consists in a construction which permits onlyone match to be taken from the box at a time, and also in thecombination, construction and arrangement of parts, substantially aswill be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure l is aperspective view of my improved match box. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is another vertical section taken at right angles tothe section of Fig. 2 through the cover and showing a modified form ofthe inner bottom, or follower.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

A denotes the box proper which may be of any shape, size and form, itbeing preferably round or square. This box has a slide cover a which isprovided withv an elongated slot 0, of suitable length and size topermit a single match to be taken laterally out through it from the box,and slot G having finger notches c c, to enable the user to insert twofingers alongside the match so as to remove it through the slot.

Within the box A is a stationary plate D which serves as the bottom ofthe box because the matches rest upon it. This plate is horizontal andfills the cross-section of the box corresponding in shape thereto. Thisplate D has the function of a follower. It is supported upon a standardor post D, which is mounted on a fiat base D The post D able the matchbox to have an automatic feed whereby the matches shall be kept close tothe slot 0, as long as any are left in the box.

The box A is filled with matches by removing the slide cover a andplacing them in a horizontal bundle therein upon the follower D untilthe box is entirely full and when this is so the follower D will be incontact with the bottom of the box. As the matches are gradually removedoneby one from the box A by the users taking them singly through theslot C, the box A will by gravity automatically descend sufficiently tokeep the up per portion of the matches in contact with the under side ofthe cover a and near the slot 0. The automatic feeding will continueuntil all the matches are exhausted. In order that the matches may benear the slot 0 when there are but very few of them remaining in thebox, as shown in Fig. 3, I preferably concave the upper side of thefollower or plate D, as at (Z. The few matches will on this concavityassume by gravity a position near the middle of the follower anddirectly beneath the slot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a match safe, the combination of the movable box having a removableslide cover which is provided with an elongated slot through which thematches may be removed laterally from the box, said slide having fingernotches, and the inner horizontal stationary plate supported on a fixedpost which is mounted upon the base, said plate serving as the bottom ofthe movable box, all the parts being arranged so that as the contents ofthe box are removed from the top, the said box will telescope upon itsstationary bottom which will act as a follower to the remainingcontents, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN HOLM.

itnesses:

W. V. BENTLEY; Ill. LEW'IS.

